TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY
C loud computing is reshaping how vehicles are designed and manufactured . Automotive companies are moving away from on-premises systems toward cloud platforms that enable real-time collaboration and virtual product development across global teams .
In a move that highlights this transition , Volkswagen Group , Europe ’ s largest automotive manufacturer , has formed a long-term partnership with Dassault Systèmes , the French industrial software company , to move its entire vehicle development process to the cloud .
The partnership centers on Dassault ’ s cloud-native 3DEXPERIENCE platform , which will replace VW Group ’ s existing on-premises engineering systems . This shift represents one of the automotive industry ’ s largest cloud migrations , affecting development processes across the company ’ s Porsche , Audi and Volkswagen brands .
The cloud platform creates virtual replicas , known as digital twins , of physical vehicles and manufacturing processes . These digital twins enable global engineering teams to collaborate in real-time , testing and refining designs before committing to physical prototypes . Traditional vehicle development methods , which rely heavily on physical prototypes and localised software , can take up to five years from concept to production .
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